Retired Rowan professer pens Broadway musical, premiering Nov. 19

Joseph Robinette, professor emeritus at Rowan University, penned the book to "A Christmas Story, The Musical" based on the cult-classic film.

Joseph Robinette, professor emeritus at Rowan University who taught speech and theater there for 34 years prior to his 2005 retirement, is headed to Broadway.

Yes, that Broadway.

Author or co-author of almost 60 published plays and musicals, the Richwood resident’s “A Christmas Story, The Musical,” previews at historic Lunt-Fontanne Theater on Broadway beginning Wednesday (Nov. 7) after a two-day delay caused by Hurricane Sandy’s unwelcome visit. The seasonal show premiers Nov. 19 and runs through Dec. 31. Tickets start at $49.

“I’m thrilled,” says Robinette. “Even at this ripe old age, I’ll take it.”

Robinette learned of his good fortune this summer while vacationing with his family at the Jersey shore.

“We brought in a big feast and celebrated. I even had a second glass of wine.”

The show’s producers were able to raise the millions required to stage a show on Broadway after a wildly successful five-city, 50-performance tour last summer. Robinette took in several in Hershey, Pa., where it debuted, and Chicago.

“It was well received when our producers brought people in from New York to see it,” Robinette says.

Another requirement of having a big-cast show go on Broadway is having access to a sizeable theater. Lunt-Fontanne fit the bill and was available. Able to accommodate comfortably a cast of 30, Lunt-Fontanne is considered a large theater with sufficient seating.

So producers started rehearsals Oct. 1 with a launch date of this Wednesday.

“I’ll be there for the first preview and the (Broadway) premier on the 19th.” With five children and seven grandchildren anxious to see the show, Joe’s comp list promises to be a tad lengthy.

On both opening nights, script writer Robinette figures to be a trifle nervous.

“But a pleasant nervousness,” Joe says.

He’s delighted with a quality cast, including star Dan Lauria, who played the father in “Wonder Years,” and Tony-winning director John Rando. Several other cast members have Broadway credits.

The show will be an extraordinary addition to Robinette’s already impressive resume. He’s just about done it all.

Robinette’s first acting role was with legendary horror film superstar Boris Karloff in the stage adaptation of “On Borrowed Time” in 1950. Raised in Jasper, Ga., Joe was somewhat introverted as a pre-teen so his father recommended auditioning for the role in the Atlanta play starring Karloff.

Says Joe, “I learned to talk loud enough that the audience can hear you, and clear enough they can understand you.” He also learned you can be paid for working in theater.

In high school, Robinette played sports, was senior class president, and took part in two plays. At Carson-Newman, Tenn. College, he was sports editor and radio announcer. In graduate school at the University of Tennessee, he had parts in nine plays and musicals.

He had a minor role in the 1963 flick, “The Fool Killer,” and was Anthony Perkins’ understudy.

While tackling doctoral studies at Southern Illinois University, he met his bride-to-be, directed six summer productions, and appeared in shows with Dennis Franz (“NYPD Blues”) and David Selby (“Dark Shadows”).

Robinette arrived on the Glassboro State College (Rowan) campus in 1971 as assistant professor of speech and by 1977 was a full professor. He directed the school’s summer theater for 20 years and produced 18 original plays, musicals and adaptations including the theme song for the iconic TV Classic “All in the Family.”

At Rowan, Robinette wrote 48 plays and musicals that were published, qualifying him as one of the country’s most prolific playwrights.

His work has been produced in 50 states and 17 countries. Twelve have been translated into other languages, four have been anthologized with forwards written by Carol Channing and Maurice Sendak.

Honored often, Robinette’s awards include the Charlotte Chorpenning Cup for outstanding writing of children’s plays and the Children’s Theater Foundation of America medallion.

Now he’s headed to Broadway.

“Many years ago, it was my dream to have a play published, but I don’t think I said to myself, ‘I’ve gotta have a show on Broadway.’ Now that it’s happening, I’m hoping it will run every Christmas and perhaps spawn a national tour.

“I’m telling people I feel like an aging baseball player who finally made it to the majors.”